The duo worked together on Shallow Grave, Trainspotting and A Life Less Ordinary, quickly becoming one of those director/actor combos like Tim Burton and Johnny Depp or Quentin Tarantino and Samuel L Jackson, but after their third film together the two went their separate ways for 19 years.

Speaking to Empiremagazine (via the Daily Mail), Boyle again recalled how McGregor thought he had the lead role in The Beach before finding out Leonardo DiCaprio was cast, apparently in an effort to raise money and awareness.

"We weren't particularly respectful towards him, way back in the day," Boyle said. "But he's always been very, very generous.

"So we met and talked and I said how sorry I was, the way we had treated him. And it rebuilt from there."